# The Trump Administration: A Clusterfuck in the Making **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 7, 2016, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070 "2016-12-07T00:25:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1075
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2018, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/21485 "2018-06-13T18:10:16Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > Well, there is something Occupy White House signed, along with KJU. The problem is that OWH doesn’t seem to get that Congress has to approve treaties. > > We no longer have any allies. And, no, the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation do not count as allies. > > Trumpeters will continue to support OWH, all the while reciting their [mantra](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppSIiHQqfD4): “He’s not Hillary. He’s not Hillary. He’s not Hillary.” (I just like the instrumental music to go along with that mantra.) For some reason, I find myself singing that to “Here comes Santa Claus” > [@Muffin](#): > > [In terms of incarceration rates, the USA is the worst in the world](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_incarceration_rate), and is the only first world nation with a civillian death penalty. > > The USA is the world’s hegemonic military power and is the wealthiest first world nation, but it is not even close to being the “home of the free.” > > Where are the camps? Have a look at your prisons and jails and prisoners’ graves. We even have [the showers.](https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/03/19/520743255/after-schizophrenic-inmate-dies-in-a-shower-florida-prosecutor-finds-no-wrongdoi) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2018, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/21486 "2018-06-13T18:44:58Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > [In terms of incarceration rates, the USA is the worst in the world](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_incarceration_rate), and is the only first world nation with a civillian death penalty. Does Japan not have a civilian death penalty? ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2018, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/21487 "2018-06-13T19:15:51Z")
[Japan:](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_Japan) 2 or 3 executions a year. [United States:](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States) 23 in 2017, 11 so far in 2018 ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2018, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/21488 "2018-06-13T19:16:43Z")
Trump’s 2020 campaign manager, Brad Parscale, calls for CNN’s Jim Acosta’s press credentials to be revoked. [CNN's Jim Acosta Blasts Trump Official Who Wants His Press Access Revoked | HuffPost Latest News](https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/jim-acosta-donald-trump-media-credentials_us_5b20e077e4b0adfb826f7de4)? ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2018, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/21489 "2018-06-13T19:19:35Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Trump’s 2020 campaign manager, Brad Parscale, calls for CNN’s Jim Acosta’s press credentials to be revoked. > [CNN's Jim Acosta Blasts Trump Official Who Wants His Press Access Revoked | HuffPost Latest News](https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/jim-acosta-donald-trump-media-credentials_us_5b20e077e4b0adfb826f7de4)? I don’t understand this one. If the White House wants to remove White House Press access, don’t they have that right? ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2018, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/21490 "2018-06-13T20:12:43Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > You think that the idea that Cohen has had shady deals is farfetched? Your sarcasm detector needs to be checked. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2018, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/21491 "2018-06-13T20:31:24Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > We even have [the showers.](https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/03/19/520743255/after-schizophrenic-inmate-dies-in-a-shower-florida-prosecutor-finds-no-wrongdoi) That, being one seemingly isolated (though tragic) shower incident, is nothing. Currently, the United States of America has the kind of “showers” that are just a ploy to routinely separate children from their parents:_Aleman-Bendiks, the public defender, said several of her clients have told her their children were taken from them by Border Patrol agents who said they were going to give them a bath. As the hours passed, it dawned on the mothers the kids were not coming back._ [https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2018/06/09/borderseparations/Z95z4eFZjyfqCLG9pyHjAO/story.html](https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2018/06/09/borderseparations/Z95z4eFZjyfqCLG9pyHjAO/story.html) That’s what we’ve sunk to\*.\* ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2018, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/21492 "2018-06-13T20:53:15Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > > [@Gyrate](#): > > > > Only a few weeks ago a certain right-wing Dopers genuinely asked [I’m paraphrasing from memory here] “If Trump is a fascist, where are the camps?”. I wasn’t expecting the administration to provide a response quite so quickly… > > [In terms of incarceration rates, the USA is the worst in the world](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_incarceration_rate), and is the only first world nation with a civillian death penalty. > > The USA is the world’s hegemonic military power and is the wealthiest first world nation, but it is not even close to being the “home of the free.” > > Where are the camps? Have a look at your prisons and jails and prisoners’ graves. While it’s good that you point this out, it should be noted that America has had the world’s highest incarceration rate a lot longer than Trump has been president. If this is evidence of his fascism, then it’s the same evidence for many previous presidents. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2018, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/21493 "2018-06-13T21:53:53Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > [Japan:](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_Japan) 2 or 3 executions a year. > > [United States:](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_States) 23 in 2017, 11 so far in 2018 Yeah, but not what was asked. Is the US the only first world country with a civilian death penalty or isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2018, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/21494 "2018-06-13T22:43:46Z")
Also, the Japanese for “plea bargain” is _seppuku_. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2018, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/21495 "2018-06-13T22:56:57Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > ABC News is reporting that Cohen is likely to cooperate. > [Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen likely to cooperate as his attorneys leave case, sources say - ABC News](https://abcnews.go.com/amp/US/trump-lawyer-michael-cohen-cooperate-attorneys-leave-case/story?id=55861988&id=55861988&__twitter_impression=true) Define “cooperate”. He’s shopping for a “deal”. “Cooperate” can mean anything. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2018, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/21496 "2018-06-13T22:58:36Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > I don’t understand this one. If the White House wants to remove White House Press access, don’t they have that **right**? People have “rights”. Government has “authority” or “power.” Never, ever confuse the two. Ever. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2018, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/21497 "2018-06-13T23:06:24Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Does Japan not have a civilian death penalty? It’s been a while since I kept up with Japanese justice, but the death penalty in Japan is just as wicked as it is here. IIRC, the condemned don’t know when they’re going to the gallows; they’re just taken one random day or night and hanged. Maybe things have changed. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2018, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/21498 "2018-06-13T23:21:36Z")
Trump says Congress can’t overturn his decision to remove sanctions from ZTE because of separation of powers. I don’t understand his reasoning, but then I doubt if anybody else can either. > **[White House warns Congress against reversing ZTE deal](https://www.politico.com/story/2018/06/13/trump-zte-china-sanctions-623700)** > > The Trump administration says lawmakers should respect the constitutional separation of powers clause. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2018, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/21499 "2018-06-13T23:27:55Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > People have “rights”. > > Government has “authority” or “power.” > > Never, ever confuse the two. > > Ever. You’re not the boss of me. Rights Power Rights Power Pights Rower Powts Righer ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2018, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/21500 "2018-06-13T23:33:40Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > I don’t understand this one. If the White House wants to remove White House Press access, don’t they have that right? Just as @PotUS (whatever it might be named) does not really have the right to block troublesome followers, the WH is not a private or semi-private HQ. It might be reasonable to bar a reporter for just cause (like, that guy from _The Daily al Qaeda_ or the reporter who blasts his bugle every time HBeast tried to talk), but that a reporter who writes aggravating copy is not just cause, it is “_just, uh, cuz_”. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2018, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/21501 "2018-06-13T23:38:13Z")
Mike Pence, the largest tool/fool in this administration is [called out for using most of his speech time](https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/13/politics/vp-pence-speaks-to-southern-baptists/index.html) at an evangelical conference by talking about how great the Orange Mess is. > [@from article](#): > > “Thank you @VP for hijacking our united religious meeting with you(r) partisan political campaign speech,” wrote Todd Benkert on Twitter. “You had an opportunity to offer a unifying non-partisan message but no.” > > Before Pence’s speech, several Southern Baptists proposed removing it from the meeting’s program and replacing it with a time for prayer or sermon. Those proposals were soundly defeated, but it became clear that many Southern Baptists, particularly people of color and younger members, were put off by the decision to allow Pence a platform at what’s supposed to be a nonpolitical event. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2018, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/21502 "2018-06-13T23:43:12Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > That, being one seemingly isolated (though tragic) shower incident, is nothing. > > Currently, the United States of America has the kind of “showers” that are just a ploy to routinely separate children from their parents:_Aleman-Bendiks, the public defender, said several of her clients have told her their children were taken from them by Border Patrol agents who said they were going to give them a bath. As the hours passed, it dawned on the mothers the kids were not coming back._ > [https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2018/06/09/borderseparations/Z95z4eFZjyfqCLG9pyHjAO/story.html](https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2018/06/09/borderseparations/Z95z4eFZjyfqCLG9pyHjAO/story.html) > > That’s what we’ve sunk to\*.\* Right after that, it says, _Children face even more challenges in finding their parents. Many of the youngest ones aren’t even verbal, leaving case managers to try to put together the pieces._ That is fucking unforgivable. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2018, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/21503 "2018-06-13T23:58:41Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Just as @PotUS (whatever it might be named) does not really have the right to block troublesome followers, the WH is not a private or semi-private HQ. It might be reasonable to bar a reporter for just cause (like, that guy from _The Daily al Qaeda_ or the reporter who blasts his bugle every time HBeast tried to talk), but that a reporter who writes aggravating copy is not just cause, it is “_just, uh, cuz_”. Sure, but there has got to be some sort of procedure for granting or revoking White House press passes. Not everyone who wants one gets it, do they? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2018, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070/21504 "2018-06-14T00:07:02Z")
[Sarah Sanders, Raj Shah planning to depart the White House](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sarah-sanders-raj-shah-planning-to-depart-the-white-house/?ftag=CNM-00-10aac3a) > [@](#): > > Press secretary Sarah Sanders and principal deputy press secretary Raj Shah are both heading for the exits, according to sources inside the White House and close to the administration. Sanders, who has become a confidante of President Trump since the departure of former communications director Hope Hicks, has told friends that she plans to leave the administration at the end of the year. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1074) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-administration-a-clusterfuck-in-the-making/774070.md?page=1076)